Simon Hardcastle took up his first nursing post at Leicester Royal Infirmary in May.

The 26-year-old volunteers for night shifts and weekend work to boost his basic salary.

As a grade D nurse his gross annual salary is �16,005. Even with the extra work he usually has no more than �150 to live on after paying bills each month.

I am just about making ends meet

In recent weeks he has had even less in his back pocket after being forced to take sick leave.

"I had four weeks off because I had done my back in so I only had my basic salary," he told BBC News Online.

"It was quite a drop. I normally get between four and six nights each month, as well as weekend shifts and late night payments."

Making ends meet

Simon previously worked as a volunteer youth worker. He knew nursing would not make him rich.

"I always thought during training it would be nice to be earning a nurse's salary. It seemed like a good rate of pay, particularly for someone who had never earned that much money before," he said.

"I thought it was a big increase but now I have to try and make it last each month. I am struggling again."

'Pay should be increased in line with that of teachers and police'

Much of Simon's pay goes towards renting a room in a shared house in Leicester. He also pays off his credit card bill and meets his car insurance premiums.

Clothes shopping is rarely on his list of things to do. Trips to the supermarket involve searching for the "two-for-the-price-of-one deals" and other money-saving offers.

"I am just about making ends meet. I try to make sure I have a little bit left at the end of each month," he explained.

Like nurses across the country, Simon wants to buy a house but cannot afford a mortgage.

"The best mortgage I can get is around �66,000 but house prices in Leicester are much higher," he said.

"I might be able to afford somewhere in a year or two but if prices continue to rise then it just won't happen."

Higher salary

He believes nurses should start with similar salaries to newly-qualified teachers and police officers.

"Our pay should be increased in line with that of teachers and police officers," he said.

Without a substantial pay increase, Simon faces spending his late 20s and possibly even his early 30s sharing rented accommodation with other nurses and students.

"It's not something I want to be doing especially since I am a bit older than everyone else," he said.

Simon has considered leaving the UK to earn more money overseas.

"It has been at the back of my mind," he said.

However, at the moment he is keen to put down roots in his native Leicester. He suggests a starting salary of �22,000 - the same as police officers - would help him achieve that.